Orchard Hill 2

Orchard Hill II, oil on linen panel, 9x12

I finally photographed this one to show you the second painting that I did on Orchard Hill. I like way the apple trees grow up the hill, and it makes you wonder what is on the other side!

Painting the Orchards

Pear Trees in Blossom, oil on linen panel, 11x14

This was the first orchard painting that I did this year, a few weeks ago. The old pear trees always blossom first and have a pink hue. I had found my spot to paint along the road, set up, only to discover that my turp had leaked out of my container. I guess the seal is getting bad. So I quickly put the gear back in the car and drove back home to get more. I only lost about half and hour but it was frustrating.

Orchard Hill

Today was a beautiful day for plein air painting. This is my start for the first painting of the day. I am painting on a linen, oil primed canvas mounted on gatorboard, made by Signature Canvas. I like their products! It is 11x14. I used a light wash to mass in the big shapes of the composition.

This second photo was taken after I painted in the sky with mixtures of cobalt blue, white, cad. yellow light and yellow ochre. I also started on the tops of the background trees.

I finished the painting, and it was a good thing because it was about noon and the sun had changed the shadows. I will post a better photo of the finished painting tomorrow. I also worked on a 9x12 painting of the same orchard which I will post in a few days. Tomorrow may be another day for painting outside so I will head back to the orchards before the blossoms are gone!

Covered Bridge in Ada

A week or so ago, I drove to Grand Gallery in Ada to pick up some work to exchange for my show this month, opening May 14. I  had along my painting gear, hoping to squeeze in some painting time. My plan was to paint somewhere on the way home, but my eye kept going to the covered bridge down the road. The morning light on the budding trees was a good backdrop for the bridge, so I made a quick decision to just go for it and see what I could do. This first photo shows part of my easel and the bridge in the background.

"Covered Bridge in Ada", oil on panel, 12x12

Come to the my painting demonstration on Thursday, May 6 from 5-8 pm

at the Grand Gallery in Ada, MI - see the web site at bottom of blog page.

This painting will be there and at the opening of my show on May 14, reception 5-8pm.

Spring Chickens

"Chickens", oil/linen panel, 12x16

This past Thursday morning was warm and the light was wonderful. I painted with the Thursday plein air group at Cutler Farm. After walking around a bit, I decided to paint the chickens and their coop. It was a challenge to try and capture the chickens as they walked around, so while I painted the buildings I was on the lookout for a chicken standing still so I could quickly add it in with a few strokes of paint.

My easel set up with the completed painting.

Spring Delight

"Spring Delight", 24x30, oil, 4/2010

I normally don't post so many blogs on the same day, but I finally was able to photograph the new work from the past three weeks or so and this painting is fresh off the easel. Unfortunately, the colors look a little washed out in this image of the painting. This piece actually has a nice variety of colors with great atmospheric perspective, so I am happy with the outcome.

This painting is now at DCF Gallery. See the link below or on my web site.

Morning Tea

"Morning Tea", 14x11, oil on linen panel, 4/2010

Maria has a yard full of daffodils and generously gave me several bouquets of daffodils and forsythia to decorate my tables for a family dinner I gave last Sunday. Naturally, I could not let the bouquet go to waste and just had to paint them as the morning light came in through the studio window. A sure sign that spring is here!